CAPRiM

Intelligence service used by corporations

CAPRiMPredecessor| Economic League

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Formation| 1993 (1993)
Dissolved| 2009; 16 years ago (2009)

CAPRiM Ltd (Corporate Asset Protection and Risk Management) was an intelligence service used by corporations.

## Background

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CAPRiM was established in May 1993 as a successor to the Economic League, which had held the construction industry's blacklist until it was wound up in 1993 after a parliamentary inquiry and bad press. It provided continued employment for two former League directors, Jack Winder and Stan Hardy.[1] The construction company Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd invested £10,000 in founding CAPRiM on the understanding that it would not interfere with The Consulting Association.[2][3]

## Targets

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In evidence given to the Scottish Parliamentary Affairs Committee, as part of its inquiry into blacklisting on 5 February 2013, the former CAPRiM director Jack Winder said that it held information and knowledge on campaigning groups and "far-left" political parties seen as a threat to businesses such as the following:[2][3][4]

* Greenpeace
* Reclaim the Streets
* Ethical consumerism
* Campaign Against the Arms Trade
* Animal rights
* Anti-GM activists

CAPRiM warned firms of those that it believed could "weaken a company's ability to manage its affairs profitably". Its monitor said: "Companies need to be warned what these organisations are saying and planning. Caprim provides this information. And assesses the strength of the threat. And advises on appropriate action".[5]

## Directors

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Jack Winder claimed that the joint managing directors were himself and Stan Hardy,[2][3] and its non-executive directors were Sir Henry Saxon Tate CBE (of Tate & Lyle) and Bernard Norman Sefton-Forbes.[2][3] Hardy had previously been the director-general of the Economic League and was a director of CAPRiM until at least 1999.[5]

## References

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1. ^ Blacklisting in Employment: Interim Report, Ninth Report of Session 2012-13, Report, Together with Formal Minutes. London: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee. 16 April 2013. p. 11.
2. ^ a b c d "Scottish Affairs Committee, Blacklisting in Employment (video)". www.parliamentlive.tv. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
3. ^ a b c d "Scottish Affairs Committee, Blacklisting in Employment (text)". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
4. ^ "Former Economic League employee confirms meetings with police, a govt minister and trade union leaders". Institute of Employment Rights. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
5. ^ a b Hencke, David (9 September 2000). "Left blacklist man joins euro fight". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2016.